Willow Creek: An Evaluation

TROWEL & SWORD

Rev. Pieter Tuit

In a previous article I have tried as objectively as possible to give a report on the Willow Creek Evangelism Conference. I also touched on the main principles that lie behind the ministry of the Willow Creek Church and Association. I thank the editor for the opportunity to write a reflection on “Willow Creek” as a whole.

First of all I would like to point out that the most powerful message of the conference came from seeing the leaders and teachers of the conference model the heart of God for lost sinners. This deserves mentioning. My further comments therefore should not detract from the impact that this modeling gave. Lost people matter to God and therefore lost people matter to Willow Creek. God desires that no one should perish but that all must come to repentance. This desire is Willow Creek’s desire and it informs, encourages and motivates its people and its ministry.

Secondly, we can welcome Willow Creek’s emphasis on the place of the local church in the work of evangelism. This is a positive development in American evangelicalism. We hope that this trend will continue to be developed and deepened in the future.

Having said the above certain questions do come to mind. The first question deals with what audience Willow Creek is trying to reach. Willow Creek appears to have a good understanding of post-modern culture and how it affects especially the generation X. It comes as a surprise therefore that the gospel presentation taught was one dating back to the 1960s (the Bridge illustration).

Does this mean that though the culture is considered post-modern, the people Willow Creek is reaching are not yet there? Is there still enough of a Biblical culture basis in North America that makes this kind of gospel presentation relevant? I don’t think this kind of presentation can be used in Europe or the universities of Australia. I noted that most of he people shown in the videos did have some kind of a church or religious background.

Someone once said that the people in India are the most religious people in the world and the Swedes the most secular. America then is a nation populated with Indians and governed by Swedes. If we can apply this to Willow Creek could we say that Willow Creek is good at reaching the Indians in its community with its approach, but not the Swedes (a quick reading of some of their literature seems to support this view). Yet, the “Swedes” are the ones who set the tone of the culture.

We can ask the question whether the Willow Creek phenomenon is part of the American revivalist tradition. Is it a modern, upper crust camp meeting held in the church? In spite of the excellent and modern facilities it follows the same model and is really very traditional in its own kind of way. Here I think of the following characteristics: a dynamic speaker and strong leader, tight organization, relevant music, literature sales, mass meetings etc. The forms may be different yet not new and the message is the same.

Willow Creek’s formula for changing the world, as expressed at this conference, is converting people one by one. This is of course traditional Evangelical belief. Will Willow Creek achieve this if it is not able to reach the Swedes of society? If this is so will Willow Creek be just another phase within the history of American revivalism and Evangelicalism?

It appears that Willow Creek has a solid evangelical undergirding. This inspires and feeds its ministry and those involved in it. The question may be asked whether it also has the theological undergirding that can carry it forward. The future will make clear whether Willow Creek has what it takes to continue from generation to generation rather than to be reinvented again in a different form.

A similar question can be asked about the leadership of Willow Creek in the future. Can Willow Creek survive without Bill Hybels? Is Willow Creek a leader based church? Can Willow Creek continue with an older Bill Hybels?

What can the RCA learn from Willow Creek? Willow Creek models, in its leaders and programs, the fact that lost people matter for God. This is why they are passionate about evangelism. The RCA will do well to take a close look at this aspect of Willow Creek. This will be more helpful than paying too much attention to the form of Willow Creek, either in agreement or disagreement.

The question can be asked whether all those strongly in favor of the Willow Creek model are also as passionate about evangelism? The same question can also be asked to those who oppose the Willow Creek model.

If it is true that the Willow Creek model is basically another phase of American revivalism a case could be made that the RCA is less traditional and much more versatile than Willow Creek. Willow Creek has developed its own particular form that it believes to be faithful to Scripture and relevant to the culture in which it finds itself which is a North American (basically) white upper middle class culture. This culture may be less challenging than that in which the RCA. finds herself. It would be beautiful if the passion for evangelism as modeled by Willow Creek could be integrated into the theological depth, ecclesiastical understanding and kingdom vision of the RCA.

It should be noted here that the Reformed ecclesiastical tradition does not to fit with a leader-based church. Also the history of the RCA has shown that there is no room for empire builders or lone rangers. Reformed congregations have a collective leadership who govern the Church based upon the word and guided by the Spirit. One of the main principles of the Reformed Church order is that no office bearer will lord over another. With some there is frustration with the kind of leadership this model creates. They long for room to express strong personal leadership qualities without the constraints of a Session, Classis or a Synod. Others believe that this collective leadership model as expressed in the Reformed Confessions and Church order, in spite of its weaknesses in practice, most faithfully reflects Scripture. The question can be asked whether the emphasis on leadership today does justice to the reformed concept of office and whether the church should have a look at the whole understanding of office?

It is important to recognize that whether we like it or not Willow Creek is an important part of the religious landscape. However, this should be placed in historical perspective. In the 1970’s Evangelism Explosion from Dr. Kennedy was considered the answer to the church’s evangelistic problems. In the 1980’s it was Dr. Schuller with the Crystal Cathedral, now it is Willlow Creek and Saddle Back. Many denominations, including the CRCNA flew or bussed ministers to these churches to learn the latest method or program to revitalize and inspire the church. I do ask the question how come that from the midst and depth of the Reformed Church family an ongoing evangelism “program” has not been developed up till now? Why do we always seem to be shopping for he latest and the newest method somewhere else?

Finally, I do want to raise the matter of the “Mega Church” phenomena”. Mega Churches at the moment are springing up everywhere. Many smaller churches in the vicinity are finding that they are losing members to the Mega Churches (a lot of what is called church planting is really ‘sheep movement’). Is a similar development taking place that we have seen and continue to see in the business and agricultural world? Should the church welcome this Mega church development? Should serious questions be asked about it?

The Willow Creek phenomenon brings home the fact that there are very strong cultural forces that impinge themselves upon the church. The challenge of the church will be how she reacts to these cultural forces. In the midst of these cultural storms the church, including the RCA must remember that she is first of all the church of Jesus Christ who gathers His Church by His Word and Spirit. The RCA must also know and understand how the Spirit has led the church in the past, including our Reformed past. At the same time the church of Christ always looks ahead with confidence to the future. The same Lord who guided His church in the past promised to guide His Church in the future. This however is not something that goes automatically. The Lord preserves His church but He at the same time calls His church to persevere to the end. May the Lord love and guide us in this.

All reports of problems and comments concerning this site: webmaster@trowelandsword.org.au

Privacy